Contact: Debbie Hamilton, 610-584-1096

PEORIA, Ill., Sept. 6, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rising prices make headlines nearly every day, whether for gasoline, travel, groceries or tariffs on goods from other countries.

Health care is certainly not immune from rising prices, with skyrocketing insurance premiums and climbing out-of-pocket costs for families not only commonplace but expected.

But for the past two years, monthly shares have not increased for the nearly 80,000 member households (more than 258,000 individuals) of Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org), one of the leading health care sharing ministries in America.

"When we look at the marketplace, how many others have had prices that stayed the same or even become lower over the past two years?" said Anthony Hopp, vice president of external relations for Samaritan Ministries. "In our world, everything is rising—and at a rapid pace. And that is especially true for health care. Additionally, health care plans are preparing for even higher costs in advance of this fall's open enrollment. Continuing two decades of good stewardship, transparency and God's provision, our quarter of a million individual members have directly shared in one another's medical needs—with no increase in the past two years—sharing only what is actually needed for members' medical care."

Butch from Florida said being a member of Samaritan Ministries helped him with the $13,000 cost of his surgery, the amount remaining after a nearly $100,000 savings from what would have normally been charged.

"It is such a blessing to get the notes in the mail with scripture verses!" Butch said. "It is such a blessing to know that other believers are praying for my recovery. It is such a blessing to be treated like a person when I call into your headquarters needing help or having questions. It is so encouraging to actually have someone pray for me before we end the calls. I'm so grateful and thankful!"

Each month, Samaritan's growing Biblical community shares approximately $27 million in medical needs person-to-person. Yet the monthly share has never exceeded $495 for a family of any size and is even less for two-person and single-person households. Members also pray and send notes and cards of encouragement along with their financial shares through this effective, affordable and God-honoring ministry.

Learn more about Samaritan Ministries International by visiting the Samaritan website at www.samaritanministries.org, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.